UAE Eid travel bookings rise 15%

Dnata reports short-haul beach destination getaways in high demand

Bookings from the UAE to destinations over the Eid Al Adha holiday are up 15% compared to last year, according to data from Dnata Travel.

Short-haul beach destinations are in high demand with travellers making the most of the long weekend, which begins Thursday, 5 June and extends until Sunday, 8 June.

“The data shows a clear preference for short-haul travel during Eid, with most trips averaging around four days," said Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure at Dnata Travel. 

"Travellers are being intentional, choosing destinations that offer convenience and value now, while planning longer, more in-depth holidays for the summer season from July onward.”

The most booked destinations include the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Türkiye, Sri Lanka and Azerbaijan, all countries within a four- to six-hour flight from the UAE. 

Seychelles is among most in-demand destinations

But it's not just short-haul escapes proving popular with travellers, according to Dnata, with destinations such as Italy, Spain, France, Thailand and Japan also in demand.

This reflects the findings of the Connecting Travel Insight Report that lists more than half of these countries as key outbound markets from the GCC in 2025, including Thailand, Türkiye, Italy and Azerbaijan with perennial Gulf favourite, the Maldives, within the top 12 outbound destinations for regional travellers. 

Earlier this month, Dnata Travel joined forces with the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) to deliver a UAE-focused campaign ahead of the peak summer travel season. 

The partnership comes as new data shows arrivals from the UAE to the Maldives up 33% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same period last year, according to MMPRC.

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For those who are yet to decide, Dnata Travel has launched some last-minute packages for Eid, including: 

1. Avani Kalutara Resort, Sri Lanka
Built in elegant colonial style, Avani Kalutara is set by a lagoon on Sri Lanka’s west coast, around an hour and a half from the historic sights of Galle. Here, guests can enjoy yoga sessions to spa access and water sports, available at sister property Anantara Kalutara. avanihotels.com/en/kalutara
Offer: Three-night stay with daily breakfast and return airfare from AED2,730 per person

2. Kuramathi Maldives
Located in Rasdhoo Atoll, an hour-and-a-half speedboat ride away from Male. the resort offers an array of accommodations, from garden villas to thatched beach bungalows with hot tubs and stilted overwater pads. Activities revolve around the water, with kayaking, paddleboarding, jet surffing and banana boat rides, while a house reef filled with turtles, eagle rays and moray eels is great territory for snorkelling. kuramathi.com
Offer: Three-night stay with daily breakfast and return airfare, plus speedboat transfers from AED4,090 per person 

Kuramathi Maldives

3. Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi, Thailand
Seemingly remote but connected, this resort is set back into the cliffside in the centre of Ao Nang, Krabi's lively entertainment hub, just a 10-minute stroll from the beach. Rooms come with balconies, outdoor baths and sea views, while villas feature private pools. There are three dining destinations, an Avani Spa and a swanky rooftop infinity pool overlooking the dramatic karst cliffs and beyond. avanihotels.com/en/ao-nang-krabi
Offer: Three-night stay with daily breakfast and return airfare from AED2,810 per person

4. Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, Türkiye
Located on the European side of Istanbul with beautiful views of the Bosphorus, Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus is just a 10-minute walk from Taksim Square and shopping district, Nisantasi. All rooms have marble fixtures and private balconies, with river and garden views both available. Surrounded by magnolia trees, the outdoor has private cabanas with TVs and mini bars and serves a weekly barbecue, while the spa offers a sauna, steam room, whirlpool and indoor and outdoor pools. Restaurants include Dragon, serving Cantonese flavours. hilton-istanbul-bosphorus
Offer: Three-night stay with daily breakfast and return airfare from AED2,990 per person

5. The Westin Mauritius Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius
Sandwiched between lush sugar cane fields and a balmy beach, this sprawling resort is near to Turtle Bay, a protected marine park and just 1.5km from Balaclava Beach. The resort is fringed by a reef, perfect for snorkelling, and an ocean nature park on the coast, while onsite, guests will find two pools, five restaurants featuring produce from local gardens, a spa, gym, games' room and a kids' club. westin-turtle-bay-resort-and-spa-mauritius
Offer: Three-night stay with daily breakfast and dinner, plus return airfare, from AED6,270 per person 

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